Method and device for preparing liquid

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device and method for preparing liquid from solid materials such as medicinal materials. It comprises preparing materials for preparing liquid and liquid at the beginning, and obtaining prepared liquid at the end. Wherein it uses steam generator  2 , intermediate switch valve  6  and material chamber  8 , which is protruded into by outlet pipe  10  which is at the bottom of material chamber  8 . It further comprises steps as follows: distillation and absorption; immersion; repetition. The device and method for preparing liquid adopts the way of repeating the distillation and dip alternately, reducing harmful substance in preparing liquid by conventional methods. If not only extracts soluble effective matter, but also reducing the loss of volatile effective matter. Ulteriorly, it makes the steps for preparing liquid simple and clear, it can prepare liquid quantificationally, effectively and not pasty and shrinkable, simultaneously it realizes the auto control by means of electricity detect and control, copes with the defects by conventional poaching.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a technology for extracting effective substances from solid materials to prepare liquid and more in particular to a device and method to replace the traditional “boiling” method for preparing liquid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People usually extract effective substances from solid materials to prepare liquid, such as boiling medicinal materials and cooking soup. A conventional method for preparing liquid mainly uses a “boiling” method; i.e., put raw materials into water, heat the water so that the effective substances in the materials are released under the function of high temperature and dissolved into the water that becomes a liquid containing effective substances of the materials. This method is relatively quite complicated. In order to fully extract the effective substances in the materials, people usually carry out a control, in view of actual situations, of quantity of added water, boiling time, quantity of remained water and fire power. These operations are difficult to carry out successfully without rich experience. For each type of materials, these operations need to be adjusted according to differences of environment and actual situations. Even though an experienced person keeps monitoring these operations, the prepared liquid may become concentrated and the materials burnt to be unusable due to his accidentally careless behavior. Thus, automatic control for these operations is difficult to achieve. Meanwhile, the originally added water may gradually evaporate in the process of boiling and the non-volatile harmful substances will be accumulated in the prepared liquid which is harmful to human bodies if the liquid is used for drinking. In addition, the volatile effective substances may be volatilized into the air in the process of boiling, which causes amount decrease and waste of effective substances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing a liquid to reduce the harmful substances in the prepared liquid, to increase amount of volatile effective substances, and further to simplify and automate the process of liquid preparation to avoid causing prepared liquid unusable.

The method includes the steps of preparing liquid and materials for preparing liquid at the beginning and obtaining prepared liquid at the end, and further includes the following featured steps of:

(1.1) Distillation and Absorption:.

-   -   The distillation refers to heating materials in a sealed space         with an outlet at the bottom thereof by providing high         temperature steam to the sealed space so that the materials can         release volatile substances and soluble substances. The         absorption refers to the absorption of the volatile substances         by the high temperature steam which is pressed out of the         outlet;

(1.2) Immersion:

-   -   The immersion refers to dissolving the soluble substances in         step (1.1) in the liquid which is pressed into the sealed space         through the outlet or a defined inlet by the air pressure         created when stopping delivering the high temperature steam to         the sealed space to allow the steam with high temperature in the         sealed space to cool down to water so that the sealed space air         pressure becomes negative with respect to the outside of the         sealed space.

(1.3) Repetition:

-   -   The repetition refers to providing high temperature steam to the         sealed space to increase the air pressure therein so as to press         the liquid out of the sealed space through the outlet. Redo step         (1.2) and step (1.3) according to specified requirements.

In accordance with a feature of the method in this invention, the liquid is water or water solution dissolving said volatile substances and soluble substances, and the sealed space includes an intermediate material layer with variable thickness for liquid preparation, a hollow upper layer, a lower layer and a web plate to separate the intermediate material layer from the lower layer.

In accordance with another feature of the method in this invention, high temperature steam with certain pressure in step (1.1) is introduced into the upper layer of the sealed space, goes through the pore spaces of materials in the intermediate material layer, distills the materials, enters into the lower layer together with the volatile substances, and is forced out through the outlet.

In according with another feature of the method in this invention, the period of time for a distillation and absorption may be set for 0.3 to 10 minutes and the period of time for a immersion may be set for 0.3 to 8 minutes.

In according with another feature of the method in this invention, the specified requirements in step (1.3) refers to ending step (1.3) when a repeating times is more than the predetermined times which is equal to or more than twice, otherwise redoing step (1.1) and step (1.2).

In according with another feature of the method in this invention, the specified requirement in step (1.3) refers to ending step (1.3) when the materials for liquid preparation is found to primarily finish releasing the volatile and soluble substances and when the volatile and soluble substances are dissolved and absorbed by the liquid, otherwise redoing step (1.1) and step (1.2).

In according with a feature of the device in the invention, the device includes a steam generator 2, an intermediate switch valve 6, a materials chamber 8, which are connected sequentially with pipes, and further includes an outlet pipe 10 at the bottom of the material chamber and a liquid container 11 into which the outlet pipe extends. Steam generator 2 for producing high temperature steam includes a housing,.a heater 1 inside the housing, a water level controller 3 at the upper portion of the housing, a sealing cap (4) on water fill-in outlet at the top and a pressure valve 5 at the top. Materials chamber 8 for holding the materials for liquid preparation includes a top sealing cap 7, an outlet pipe 10 at the bottom thereof and a separation web plate 16. Liquid container 11 is used to hold water 12 to dissolve and absorb the volatile substances and soluble substances. The intermediate switch valve 6 controls entry of the high temperature steam into materials chamber 8.

In according with another feature of the device in the invention, the device also includes a bypass return pipe 13 wherein one end thereof is connected to outlet pipe 10 and the other end thereof is connected to the upper portion of material chamber 8, a one-way valve 15 connected between outlet pipe 10 and material chamber 8, and a one-way valve 14 connected between bypass return pipe 13 and material chamber 8.

In according with another feature of the device in the invention, steam generator 2 further includes a water intake device, a water intake switch, water level controller 3, intermediate switch valve 6, heater 1 and an electric circuit for testing and automatically controlling water intake.

The object of the device and the method for liquid preparation in this invention is to reduce harmful substances in the liquid prepared in the traditional methods, to fully extract soluble effective substances, and to decrease the loss of volatile effective substances. It is a further objective of this invention to simplify and specify the methods of liquid preparation to allow the liquid preparation to be quantified, not pasty and concentrated, and with high efficiency. Meanwhile it uses the electric testing and controlling circuit to perform automation control which overcomes the disadvantages of the boiling methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structure diagram of a standard liquid preparation device provided by this invention.

FIG. 2 is a structure diagram of a liquid preparation device with bypass liquid return pipe provided by this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The method for preparing liquid provided by this invention, most importantly, includes a process of distilling the liquid preparation materials to release effective substances thereof and meanwhile collecting the volatile substances therein, and a process of collecting the soluble substances therein. These processes are repeated. This method can be achieved by utilizing the following devices under the air pressure theory. Together with the figures and embodiments, the method of this invention is further described.

First, the device for this invention is described as follows:

This device can be a standard liquid preparation device as shown in FIG. 1 including steam generator 2, materials chamber 8 connected to the steam generator through pipes, intermediate switch valve 6 between steam generator 2 and materials chamber 8, liquid container 11 placed below materials chamber 8, and outlet pipe 10 at the bottom of materials chamber 8 extending into the water solution in liquid container 11. Steam generator 2 includes the heater 1 on the inside lower portion thereof, water level controller 3 on the upper portion of the housing, and sealing cap 4 and pressure valve 5 at the top thereof. Material chamber 8 includes top sealing cap 7, outlet pipe 10 at the bottom thereof and separation web plate 16. One end of the pipe opens at the upper portion of steam generator 2 and the other end opens at the upper portion of materials chamber 8.

This device can also be a liquid preparation device with a bypass return pipe as shown in FIG. 2. Bypass return pipe 13 has one end opening on outlet pipe 10 at the bottom of materials chamber 8 and the other end opening on the upper portion of materials chamber 8. A one-way valve 15 through which steam is pressed out is placed between outlet pipe 10 and material chamber 8. A one-way valve 14 through which liquid is pressed in is placed between bypass return pipe 13 and material chamber 8. Liquid container 11 generally refers to containers holding liquid, including glasses, basins, jars, buckets, pots, and some special containers.

Furthermore, the liquid preparation process for using this device is described as follows:

-   -   a) Work flow: As the water in steam generator 2 is heated to         boiling to produce high temperature steam, intermediate switch         valve 6 is opened to allow steam to enter into material chamber         8; With the propulsion of the steam produced afterwards, the         steam goes down, distills the liquid preparation materials, and         absorbs the effective substances; The steam containing the         effective substances enters into outlet pipe 10 through which it         is guided into liquid container 11 where the steam dissolved         into the water therein to become water solution 12; After         intermediate valve 6 is closed (also the steam generator can         stop operation at the same time), the steam in the material         chamber 8 cools down to cause negative pressure in the materials         chamber. Under the air pressure, water solution 12 in liquid         container 11 is pressed into material chamber 8 to immerse the         materials; After intermediate switch valve 6 is opened again         (steam generator 2 may be started at the same time), the steam         is allowed to enter into material chamber 8 again. Since the         steam pressure becomes greater than the outside air pressure,         the water solution in which the materials have been immersed is         pressed back from material chamber 8 into liquid container 11;         then, the steam enters into the solution to create a cycle. This         cycle runs repeatedly until an appropriate effect is achieved.     -   b) Detailed procedures (taking standard liquid preparation         device as an example):         -   Before use: fill in steam generator 2 with water, mount and             screw tightly sealing cap (4), put the liquid preparation             materials in material chamber 8, mount and screw tightly             sealing cap 7, and then fill in liquid container 11 with a             certain amount of water enough to allow the portion thereof             higher than the bottom end of outlet pipe 10 to submerge             liquid preparation materials 9 and to open intermediate             switch valve 6.         -   During use: heater 1 in steam generator 2 is supplied with             power to heat water to boiling to generate steam; The steam             enters into material chamber 8 through pipes and             intermediate switch valve 6 and distills liquid preparation             materials 9 to make liquid preparation materials 9 to             release the effective substances in which the volatile             effective substances mixes with the steam to form medicine             steam; The medicine steam is guided into water solution 12             in liquid container 11 through outlet pipe 10; After a             period of time passed, intermediate switch valve 6 is closed             and meanwhile heater 2 can also be close to allow the steam             in material chamber 8 to cool down to water, which cause a             negative pressure in material chamber 8; under the air             pressure, the water solution in liquid container 11 is             pressed into material chamber 8 to immerse the materials in             material chamber 8 and to dissolve soluble effective             substances released from the material. After a certain             period of immersion, intermediate switch valve 6 is opened             again and heater 1 is supplied with power at the same time             to have the steam once again to enter into material chamber             8; under the steam pressure, the solution with effective             substances in material chamber 8 is pressed back into liquid             container 11 through outlet pipe 10; and then the             distillation is repeated; After several repetitive             operations of closing and opening of intermediate switch             valve 6, the effective substances in liquid preparation             materials 9 are fully released in the required water             solution.         -   After use: when the water solution in material chamber 8 is             fully pressed out in the process of distillation, first turn             off the power of heater 1 to stop heating then close             intermediate switch valve 6 and then take out the prepared             liquid; The steam in steam generator 2 cools down to allow             pressure valve 5 to automatically open under the negative             pressure to have air in it so as to balance the air pressure             between inside and outside of steam generator 2 and material             chamber 8 to complete the whole workflow processes.         -   Further, separation web plate 16 in material chamber 8 can             prevent the liquid preparation materials from blocking the             outlet pipe and allow the steam and volatile substances to             be pressed out of the outlet easily water level controller 3             is used to make sure that the water in steam generator 1 is             enough to submerge heater 2 for safety if there is an             accidental path blockage causing the air pressure in steam             generator 2 to increase, pressure valve 5 will automatically             open to release pressure to avoid accidents intermediate             switch 6, water level controller 3 and heater 1 can be             tested and controlled electrically. Moreover, in this             invention, based on different materials, amount of materials             and different purposes, the time of distillation varies             widely from 0.3 to 10 minutes every distillation and that of             immersion varies widely from 0.3 to 10 minutes every             immersion and the process must be repeated at least twice.             According to actual situations, we can preset the time of             distillation and immersion and the repeat times and add             electrically controlled water intake device and water intake             switch to steam generator 2 to automatically test the water             level of water level controller 3. When water is less, the             water intake switch is opened automatically by an electric             control circuit to allow water to enter into steam generator             2. At the beginning of distillation, the electric control             circuit automatically opens intermediate switch valve 6 and             supply powers to heater 2 at the same time (steam generator             2 starts to generate steam). After the distillation ends,             the electric control circuit automatically closes             intermediate switch valve and turn off the power of heater 1             (steam generator 2 stops to generate steam) to start             immersion process. The electric control circuit repeats the             above-mentioned process to automate the liquid preparation             process only by putting in materials and filling water in             liquid container 11. The materials and water are prepared             according to amount.

The invention is further illustrated by means of the following examples, which represent preferred embodiments in various fields:

-   -   a. New type Chinese traditional medicine machine         -   The device of the invention can be used as a Chinese             medicine machine for preparing Chinese medicinal liquid with             high effectiveness (because of containing more volatile             effective substance) and more favorable to human body             because the invention requires no boiling to prevent the             water from concentration and also can be basically             quantified to avoid wasting materials, burning medicines and             drying pot. The Chinese medicine machine can also use             process control technologies at the same time, which is             convenient for operation and allows a person without any             experience to prepare Chinese medicinal liquid with good             quality.     -   b. New type medicated bath machine         -   The device of the invention can also be used as a medicated             bath machine to prepare liquid from medicinal materials,             which is prepared into bath liquid together with other             ingredients or is delivered to a bathtub. To deliver             medicine liquid for various of medicated baths, the liquid             container can be used as the container for bathing and the             outlet pipe can be used as conduit put into the container             for bathing.     -   c. Various kinds of new type automatic soup cookers         -   The device of this invention can be used as an automatic             soup cooker when the liquid container is used for holding             soup with nutritious substance extracted from solid             foodstuff such as poultry.     -   d. New type equipments for production of various kinds of         beverages.         -   The device of this invention can be used to extract liquid             from solid foodstuffs such as fresh fruits, dried fruits,             subsidiary foodstuff, and medicinal materials for preparing             the high-effectiveness and convenient beverage. 

1. A method for preparing liquid, comprising the steps of preparing a liquid and a material for liquid preparation at the beginning; obtaining a prepared liquid at the end; and the following steps of: (1.1) Distillation and absorption, wherein said distillation means that said material for liquid preparation is heated by a steam with high temperature to release volatile substances and soluble substances when the steam is delivered to a sealed space with an outlet at the bottom thereof and said absorption means that the steam mixing with the volatile substances is forced out from the outlet to be dissolved and absorbed in the liquid; (1.2) Immersion, wherein said immersion means that the soluble substances in the step (1.1) dissolves in the liquid which is pressed into the sealed space through the outlet or a defined inlet due to an air pressure difference created when stopping to deliver the steam with high temperature to the sealed space allows the steam in the sealed space to cool down to water so that an air pressure in the sealed space becomes negative with respect to outside of the sealed space; and (1.3) Repetition, wherein said repetition means that the steam is supplied to the sealed space to recover the air pressure therein so as to force the liquid out of the sealed space through the outlet and the step (1.2) and the step (1.3) are repeated according to a specified requirement.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said liquid is water or water solution in which said volatile substances and soluble substances dissolves and said sealed space comprises an intermediate material layer with a variable thickness for the material, a hollow upper layer, a hollow lower layer and a separation web plate to isolate the intermediate material layer from the lower layer.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the steam with high temperature in the step (1.1) is forced into the upper layer of the sealed space, goes through pore spaces of the material in the intermediate material layer, distills the material, enters into the lower layer together with the volatile substances, and then is forced out through the outlet.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein a period of time for one distillation and absorption may be set for 0.3 to 10 minutes and a period of time for one immersion may be set for 0.3 to 8 minutes.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified requirement in the step (1.3) refers to ending the step (1.3) when the number of repeat times is more than that of the predetermined times which is equal to or more than two, otherwise redoing the step (1.1) and the step (1.2).
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified requirement in the step (1.3) refers to ending step (1.3) when the material for liquid preparation is found to primarily release the volatile and soluble substances and when the volatile and soluble substances are dissolved and absorbed in the liquid, otherwise redoing the step (1.1) and the step (1.2).
 7. A device for preparing liquid, comprising: a steam generator 2 for generating the steam with high temperature comprising a housing, a heater 1 inside the housing, a water level controller 3 at the upper portion of the housing, a sealing cap 4 for a water fill-in outlet at the top thereof and a pressure valve 5 at the top thereof; a material chamber 8 for holding the material having a sealing top cap 7, an outlet pipe 10 at the bottom thereof, and a separation web plate 16; an intermediate switch valve 6 connected between the steam generator and the material chamber, which is used for controlling an entry of the steam with high temperature into the material chamber 8; and a liquid container 11 for holding the water in which the volatile and soluble substances is dissolved and absorbed, into which the outlet pipe 10 extends.
 8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a bypass return pipe 13 wherein one end thereof is connected to the outlet pipe 10 and the other end thereof is connected to the upper portion of the material chamber 8, a one-way valve 15 connected between the outlet pipe 10 and the material chamber 8, and a one-way valve 14 connected between the bypass return pipe 13 and the material chamber
 8. 9. The device of claim 7, wherein the steam generator further comprises a water intake device, a water intake switch, the water level controller 3, the intermediate switch valve 6, the heater 1 and an electric circuit for testing and controlling water intake.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is a device for preparing traditional Chinese medicine liquid.
 11. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is a device for preparing medicated bath liquid.
 12. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is a cooking device for preparing soup.
 13. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is a device for preparing beverage for drinking.
 14. The device of claim 8, wherein the steam generator further comprises a water intake device, a water intake switch, the water level controller (3), the intermediate switch valve (6), the heater (1) and an electric circuit for testing and controlling water intake.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is a device for preparing traditional Chinese medicine liquid.
 16. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is a device for preparing medicated bath liquid.
 17. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is a cooking device for preparing soup.
 18. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is a device for preparing beverage for drinking. 